Page 22 - Cullman Oktoberfest 2021

Cullman Oktoberfest 2021 | 20
mISSING
mR. oKTOBERFEST
“A tribute to Wolfgang Moritz”
Words By: Georgia Hendrix Shockley Photos provided by: Nora Moritz & CPRST
Autumn is a welcomed season for the citizens of Cullman. Everyone shares an air of excitement as the evidence of this beautiful time of year makes its’ grand entrance. The city is getting dressed up for the yearly celebration known as Oktoberfest. The traditional hay people are on the corner. Store fronts and parks are decorated with flowers, pumpkins and hay bales all displaying such a splendid array of autumn colors. The time has arrived once again to celebrate the German heritage that built our town. Long hot days of summer have ended, and as The Mamas and the Papas sang, “the time is right for dancing in the street.”
The festivities are usually held within tradition with little variation. This year will be different. A very important person will be missing. That person is Wolfgang Moritz, better known as just “Wolf.” For the past 20 years Wolf had entertained for hours on end playing our favorite tunes on his accordion. Folks have sat and enjoyed the show and many danced as he spun his musical magic across the atmosphere. The chicken dance is a timeless favorite. It is fun to try it, but even more fun to watch others do it. His charisma was infectious as he pulled his audience into his festive spirit. Wolf laughed with the crowd and put everyone at ease. It was obvious that he loved them all dearly and they loved him.
Wolfgang was born in Augsburg, Germany on April 30, 1949. His mother died while in Germany when he was three years old. His father remarried and had a son who was born when Wolf was five years old. Wolf’s father moved to Canada in hopes of a better life and later sent for his family to join him. In 1957 eight year old Wolfgang, along with his step mother and three year old brother, left Germany to be with his father. It was while he lived in Canada that he began to study the accordion at only ten years old. After three years of lessons he began to teach himself. He mastered that art tremendously and became a long standing member of the Alabama Accordionists Association. He was transferred from California in 1996 for a job in Huntsville. After a layoff he began serving our community in 1999, where he soon became the man we all know as “Mister Oktoberfest.”